The Right to Intercede

Guidance-I

“He (Allah) knows whatever is before them (angels) and whatsoever is remote from them and they do not intercede except for one intercession on whose behalf pleases Him; and they stand constantly in awe of Him. And if anyone of them claims: ‘Indeed I am a god beside Him’, We shall recompense him with Hell. Thus do We recompense the wrong-doers.”

( Qur'an – 21:28-29)

The Arabian polytheists used to worship angels for two reasons. First, they believed them to be God’s offspring. Second, they wanted to ingratiate themselves with them by means of worship so that they might intercede for them with God. But a close study of the Qur'an shows that both reasons, however, are false.

It is also worth remembering that while refuting such polytheistic beliefs about intercession, the Qur'an also emphasises that those who are regarded as intercessors do not have knowledge of the unseen whereas God knows everything, both that which is evident to them and that which is hidden. This makes the unbelievers question whether they are justified in investing those people with the absolute and unconditional power of intercession when those same people are not even aware of the whole record of those in whose favour they intend to intercede. The right to intercede, whether by angels, Prophets or saints, is subject to the condition that God alone permits them to intercede on someone else’s behalf. No one is entitled to intercede of his own accord: all is contingent upon God’s permission. Since it is God’s exclusive prerogative to hear and accept a plea on someone else’s behalf, or indeed not to do so, there is no reason for people to bow down in humility before anyone. For all creatures, including those who may be allowed to intercede, are powerless before God.